With construction on the interstates, proposed rail service from New Haven to Springfield, Mass., and Tweed New Haven Regional Airport searching for ways to stay in business, Connecticut has become a hub of transportation transformation. Follow continuing coverage here from the New Haven Register.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that motorists on Connecticut's interstate highways (I-84, I-91, I-95, and I-395) will now see new signage posted to identify the state's Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).
The new signs delineate the start and end points of the federally-designated corridors and will promote public awareness of the availability of alternative fuel options in proximity to the corridors. The AFC designations in Connecticut are part of a national network of corridors that support alternative fueling infrastructure.
"Designating Connecticut's network of Alternative Fuel Corridors is another meaningful step forward into our carbon emissions-free future," said Governor Ned Lamont. "More than a sign that Connecticut is headed in the right direction on climate action, these designated corridors are laying the groundwork for easy access to clean alternative fuels. With more certainty and reliability in alternative fueling options, we can grow the electric car market right here in Connecticut and beyond."
"We know that the transportation sector is Connecticut's single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and that alternative fueled vehicles not only help us fight climate change but also the negative public health impacts of tailpipe emissions," said CTDOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti. "The AFC program is an important tool to to improve the awareness of alternative fuels and help drivers plan for extended trips knowing that they will be able to refuel or recharge their vehicles away from home. I thank the Federal Highway Authority for their administration of the AFC program, and our partners at DEEP who are working with us every day in our attempt to move to a cleaner transportation future."
"We are very grateful to our DOT partners for their work on this initiative," DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. "This signage is one of many efforts called for in DEEP's Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut (EV Roadmap), our strategy for achieving widespread deployment of electric vehicles in the state, which is one of the keys to meeting the state's greenhouse gas reduction targets. Consistency in the consumer experience at charging stations is fundamental to the successful adoption of EVs. Clear and uniform signage is critical to ensuring a positive experience while driving electric, and reducing range anxiety."
The new signs are designed to increase travelers' awareness of alternative fuels along the corridors, and drivers are encouraged to use the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuel Station Locator to pinpoint specific fueling locations along the routes.
The following locations are now designated and signed as AFC's:
EV:I-84 (NY border to MA border)* I-91 (New Haven to MA border)* I-95 (NY border to RI border)* I-395 (Waterford to MA border
CNG:I-91 (New Haven to MA border) I-95 (NY border to RI border)
LPG: I-84 (NY border to South Windsor)
*Three EV corridors above are also included in more extensive multi-state corridors helping to ensure that EV drivers can easily travel out of state and always be within the range of a charging station. Those corridors are:
EV: I-84(Middletown, NY to CT/ MA border) I-91(New Haven, CT to Norwich, VT) I-95(Augusta, ME to Petersburg, VA)
The CTDOT is working with DEEP to coordinate state efforts that support the use of alternative fuels, as well as participating in several New England initiatives to improve alternative fuel vehicle travel by promoting low carbon, zero-emission transportation options, addressing barriers such as range anxiety, integrating alternative fuels into transportation planning efforts and highlighting public interest and awareness of alternative fuel availability.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced improvements to the CTrail eTix mobile app which provides CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East riders with the ability to purchase tickets using smartphone devices. The app is a more convenient way to pay rail fares without needing to carry and display a paper ticket. The app now accepts both Apple Pay and Google Pay, and allows users to log in using Face ID/Touch ID (Apple) or fingerprint (Android).
"These improvements will make CTrail eTix much more user friendly," said CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. "The app first launched in February of this year, and contactless ticketing has become especially important during this pandemic. If you are planning to ride the Hartford Line or Shore Line East, I encourage you to download and try the eTix app to see how easy and convenient it is to use."
"The addition of Apply Pay and Google Pay to CTrail eTix is the result of our continuing commitment to the customer experience," said Public Transportation Bureau Chief Rich Andreski. "Travel on public transportation should be as easy and convenient as possible."
The app login experience has been enhanced greatly by adding biometric security - the option to turn on Face ID or Touch ID in Apple's iOS or fingerprint authentication on Android devices. Previously, users needed to manually enter their password to ensure the security of their ticket purchases from within the app.
With CTrail eTix, customers can now purchase tickets using Google Pay or Apple Pay in addition to a credit or debit card and store them electronically on their device. When ready to use a mobile ticket, the customer simply opens the CTrail eTix app and presses a button to activate the mobile ticket. After the ticket is activated, customers then show their smartphone screen to their train conductor.
The app can be used to purchase Shore Line East and Hartford Line tickets, with optional connecting service on New Haven Line (Metro-North Railroad) trains using a single device for one transaction. In addition, customers utilizing the stations in Berlin and Wallingford have the ability to purchase parking through the app.
